Wednesday, January 8, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

9 Jan 1942: RE Jones Diary

Posted: 23 Dec 2011 09:51 PM PST

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-01-09

Quiet day, no events. Pile tells me he saw Blackie in the village. I hope it is right.

9 Jan 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 09 Jan 2012 03:59 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-01-09

In the Kowloon YMCA the day Edith Hamson has been longing for finally arrives:

Four excruciatingly long weeks passed and nothing happened to change our situation. there was no more fighting, no more bombing. We remained cooped inside the YMCA in crowded quarters with no news of the outside world....

The morning of 9 January began as just another miserable day. Then, without warning, we were ordered to congregate in the foyer.

They are taken to the Kowloon Hotel. As she struggles up the stairs to the second floor, she sees her husband Arthur standing at the top of the landing:

I forgot about the soldiers guarding us, I forgot about everything and started running up as he came towards me. The children followed me, and the four of us held each other, kissing and hugging...

The soldier screamed at us in Japanmese, pointing skywards and pushing Arthur back up the stairs. Our reunion had lasted for less than a minute, then my husband was gone.

 

Captain Tanaka, at the time Japanese head of communications, gives permission to Thomas Edgar and other bakers to start making bread for the hospitals. They open the Chinese-owned Green Dragon (Ching Loong) Bakery in Wanchai.  ((See note.))

Sources:

Tanaka: article by E. (mistake for T. H.) Edgar, The British Baker, September 13, 1946, pages 18-19

Hamsons: Allana Corbin, Prisoners Of The East, 2002, 115-117 

Note:

Barbara Anslow's diary establishes that bread began to reach the hotels on January 12 and John Luff, basing himself on the diary of Captain A. Potts, states that 'the local Red Cross sent in sufficient bread (to the Nam King Hotel) to provide each person with one slice a day'. Neither of the two extant accounts by the bakers mentions sending bread to the hotels, but it seems likely that the Ching Loong was the source.

Source: John Luff, The Hidden Years, 1967, 166

9 Jan 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary

Posted: 05 Jan 2013 06:18 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Harry Ching's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-01-09

Hongkong money still being accepted. But this day Japs making yen available from depot at Chartered Bank. Queue extended from the bank to Gloucester Hotel corner. Only ten yen allowed each person at rate of two HK dollars for one yen. No change available, so high denomination HK notes not accepted. The over-printed Chinese notes also rejected.

To Tung Fong Hotel to see Ben Wylie. Chinese police guarding entrance. Ben appeared with Vincent Jarrett, John Luke and George Giffen. Dick Cloake typhoid. I gave Ben tin cocoa and tin milk. Jap soldier came along and motioned us clear out.

((Following text not dated:))

Notice in newspapers: "Except Chinese, all Third Nationals are required to have a certificate, otherwise they are prohibited to pass in the Colony. Such certificates can be obtained at the Civil Administration Office where the applicant will have to take an oath that he or she will obey any order or instruction given by the Imperial Japanese Army, and that no action of any sort which would benefit the enemies will be attempted." This appeared offer us a compromise as regards national status. But what was a "Third National"? We cautious and wait.
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